Shell script
Bash is a Unix command-line shell and scripting language for executing commands interactively and through scripts.
Practical Automation with PowerShell: Effective scripting from the console to the cloud
A script is a text-based program that contains instructions for an interpreter to execute.
- How it is used
- Automates repeatable operational work such as log cleanup, inventory collection, account checks, backups, and request processing.
- How deep it goes
- Develops phased design, parameters, functions, scheduling, execution placement, termination, deployment, and sharing rather than shell-language internals.
- Examples
- Uses log-file cleanup, virtual-machine provisioning, zero-touch ISO creation, client deployment, and module installation as concrete automations.
- What you can do after
- Apply it via PowerShell and schedulers to build reusable, deployable automations with explicit dependencies and execution constraints.
Bootstrapping Microservices, Second Edition: With Docker, Kubernetes, GitHub Actions, and Terraform
A shell script is a text file containing commands interpreted and executed by a command-line shell.
- How it is used
- Packages repeated development and deployment commands for local runs and automated workflows.
- How deep it goes
- Works from a one-command script through executable permissions, environment variables and separate deployment scripts; does not teach shell syntax in depth.
- Examples
- Uses a Hello World script, Compose up/down wrappers, and scripts to build, publish and deploy a microservice.
- What you can do after
- Practice/perform local deployment steps in scripts before invoking those scripts in an automated workflow.
The Quick Python Book, Fourth Edition
A shell script is a text program interpreted by a command shell to execute commands and control operating-system operations.
- How it is used
- Places shell use in the practical task of launching Python programs with arguments and redirected input or output.
- How deep it goes
- Explains how to run Python scripts from shells and redirect streams, but does not teach shell-script syntax.
- Examples
- Uses a Windows command that runs `replace.py` with two arguments, input from `infile`, and output to `outfile`.
- What you can do after
- Evaluate/understand it: distinguish a shell-launched Python script from a shell script and read a basic redirected command.
Read how The Quick Python Book, Fourth Edition explains shell script →
AI for Everyday IT
Bash is a Unix shell and command language used to execute commands and automate operating-system tasks.
- How it is used
- Automates repetitive Linux administration across multiple servers.
- How deep it goes
- Explains a complete script workflow with functions, iteration, SSH commands, comparison, validation, and logging.
- Examples
- Uses a server list, uname -r, expected kernel versions, SSH key pairs, and output files.
- What you can do after
- Build it from scratch to check and compare kernel versions across servers and adapt the script for related tasks.
F# in Action: A Revised Edition of Get Programming with F#
A script is a source-code file intended for direct or interactive execution and reuse without requiring a full application project.
- How it is used
- Supports interactive experimentation, reusable snippets, data exploration, and small operational utilities.
- How deep it goes
- Explains iterative REPL workflow and a step-by-step migration into a console application, including module inclusion and file ordering.
- Examples
- Uses car-driving logic moved into a console app, reusable order analyses, build automation, and CSV database reseeding.
- What you can do after
- Apply it via FSI and the REPL to explore data iteratively, create utilities, and migrate reusable logic into applications.
Read how F# in Action: A Revised Edition of Get Programming with F# explains shell script →
The Complete Obsolete Guide to Generative AI
Bash is a command-line shell and scripting language for interacting with operating systems and executing shell programs.
- How it is used
- Automates repeated ChatPDF API requests for querying PDFs and generating topic-specific assessment questions.
- How deep it goes
- Demonstrates multiline curl commands, source IDs, line-by-line input, heredocs, variables, and command execution without explaining Bash broadly.
- Examples
- Uses PDF upload and querying, then a script that turns topic-file lines into multi-select assessment-question requests.
- What you can do after
- Apply it via curl and the ChatPDF API to submit a PDF and automate repeated prompt requests.
Read how The Complete Obsolete Guide to Generative AI explains shell script →
Related concepts
- repositorypart of · A software repository is an organized storage location or collection of project files and related artifacts, often managed with version history and change tracking.
- commanduses · A command is an instruction or request representing an operation for a system or component to interpret, handle, or execute.
- pipelinecontrasts with · A pipeline is an ordered or coordinated sequence of connected processing stages or tasks that passes data, work, or results toward an outcome.
- PowerShell execution policyconfigured by · A PowerShell execution policy is a configuration setting that controls whether scripts may run and under what signing or trust conditions.
- comment-based helphas part · Comment-based help is PowerShell documentation embedded in specially formatted comments associated with a script, function, or command.
- PowerShellcontrasts with · PowerShell is Microsoft's cross-platform command shell and scripting language for administering computer systems and automating tasks.
These guides are generated from the text of Manning books by Manning's knowledge graph and link to the sections they draw on. The full books are available on liveBook and at manning.com.